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Tech’s Petan named WCHA player of the month; Ferris State’s Smith top rookie

MiHockey Staff

WCHA

By @MichaelCaples –

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has announced its monthly awards, and both are going to Michigan residents.

The WCHA has selected Michigan Tech’s Alex Petan as the player of the month, as well as Ferris State’s Darren Smith as rookie of the month.

Petan, a senior forward, averaged a point per game while leading the Huskies back into the top 15 of the national rankings during January. A co-captain for MTU, Petan recorded four goals and six points in four WCHA conference games, all against the two ranked programs MTU is trying to catch in the standings. The senior from Delta, B.C., holds a 12-game point streak in conference play.

Also nominated:
·         Michael Bitzer, So., G, Bemidji State (led the WCHA with nine games, 525:05 minutes, 200 saves, five wins and two shutouts, going 5-2-2 with a 1.71 goals-against average and .930 save percentage)
·         C.J. Franklin, So., F, Minnesota State (scored five goals with three assists in eight games, helping the Mavericks to a 4-3-1 mark for the month)
·         Brandon Hawkins, So., F, Bowling Green (WCHA leader with six goals and 11 points in nine games, helping BGSU to its highest-scoring month in a decade)
·         Matt Larose, Jr., G, Alabama Huntsville (ranked second in the league with a .935 save percentage, averaging 32.5 stops per game and going 2-1-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average)
·         Darren Nowick, Sr., F, Northern Michigan (paced the Wildcats with eight points and five assists; finished the month on a four-game point streak)
·         Tyler Morley, Sr., F, Alaska (tied for the WCHA lead with six goals, ranked second with 10 points and paced circuit with four power-play points)

Meanwhile, Smith was stellar between the pipes for the Bulldogs, leading FSU to a 3-0-2 mark after taking over during their second game of the month. The rookie goaltender posted a 1.74 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage – both third-best in the league.

Also nominated:
·         Max Coatta, Fr., F, Minnesota State (led all WCHA rookies with two goals, five assists and seven points, helping the Mavericks to a 4-2-1 record when he played)